Malawi Update

Muli bwanji!All is well here in Malawi. It’s crazy to think that we are at our halfway point. Our ministries are going really well. Our relationships with the kids at the farm are really growing. It’s taken more of an effort for us girls to build relationships because we aren’t able to live at the farm for policy reasons, but the kids are beginning to realize that we are here for the whole summer, unlike the short-term teams that have been coming and going. Our team has been realizing, what a privilege it is to be with these kids for the summer and to be involved in their daily lives. They are done with school in a week and we’re excited to be able to spend more than just afternoons with them. Next week will be really awesome because all of the kids (over a hundred) from Chiwengo (another COTN site up north) and Chitipi will go to Lake Malawi, where we will help run week-long camp. Our other ministry at Mtsileza has required some flexibility—several funerals in the past week have caused us to change our evangelism sites. Last week, we walked more than 40 minutes through the fields and plains (think Lion King-ish). Although we’ve learned some phrases in Chichewa, the language barrier has been more of a struggle at Mtsileza because very few of the kids speak English and there are more than 400 kids in the program there. Despite this barrier, the kids are always excited to see us. When we drive through the villages, kids come running from all directions, screaming “asungu!!” which is their term for white person. From inside our van, it feels like we are on a parade float, as we smile and wave to all the waving kids. Though we are the ones teaching the kids in discipleship and evangelism, we’re learning just as much, if not more from them. Aside from ministry, we have no problem entertaining ourselves…Most mornings, us girls have at least a few hours of quiet time, yes a few hours, because we get up at six every morning and sometimes five when one of our annoying cats meows at the window, or the rooster crows, or there is a gecko in your bed, or the neighborhood dogs bark…in any case we wake up early. One of the highlights of our day (Shannon and Melissa) occurs every morning without fail when walking entrepreneurs pass our house sounding much like vendors at a baseball game when they yell what sounds like “day-by-day!” and “yah-duh-lay!!’ You may not understand why this is so funny, but we laugh hysterically every morning. Us girls, frequently refer to ourselves as old ladies. We, as previously mentioned, wake up at the crack of dawn, drink several cups of tea, read and journal a ton, and we have our own grandma chair. We have been seen working on jig-saw puzzles, making friendship bracelets, and going to bed by 9pm. The guys have been enjoying daily bucket baths and true Malawian food. Kenny has been working on various repair projects at the farm such as the gate and huge bird house. Nolan, along with the New Testament reading with our team has taken up reading to Old Testament as is sure to be done by the end of our trip. As a team we are bonding over countless embarrassing moments, our ever-growing quote book, our contest over best farmer’s tan and the pursuit of a good milkshake.Tsalani bwino (Stay well)Kumbadilas (hugs)Melissa, Shannon and Team Malawi